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It was a tough start for Team USA Basketball in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The team is already shorthanded during training camp with nine players as Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker advance to the finals. NBA. That number has been reduced further, with Bradley Beal being placed on health and safety protocols on Wednesday. Forward Jerami Grant has also been placed in protocols but has not known a positive test for COVID-19 according to reports.
ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Team USA are looking to replace Beal on the 12-man roster before heading to Tokyo after Team USA announced that Beal would not be able to play.
So what options does Gregg Popovich have to replace Beal on the roster with the team’s first Olympic game against France just ten days away? Let’s take a look at some potential possibilities that could be at play.
United States Select team options
This team has trained with Team USA in Las Vegas for the past two weeks and three guards / wings have been on the team’s 12-player roster during exhibition matches to provide manpower. extra with Booker, Middleton and Holiday still playing NBA games. If continuity is a priority for Popovich, any of these players would be a great fit after attending training camp.
Garland of Darius: The Cavs goaltender averaged a career-high 17.1 points per game last season, but a lack of height at 6-1 could make him an easy target defensively.
Keldon Johnson: He started for Gregg Popovich for 67 games during his second NBA season. Doesn’t have a reliable jump shot, but the familiarity with the head coach as well as some tenacity on the wing might appeal to Popovich.
Saddiq Bey: A potential 3-and-D weapon for Americans after knocking down 38% of his 3s for Detroit in his rookie year.
Veteran Options
Julius Randle: After a year of career with the Knicks, he was surprisingly snubbed for Kevin Love on the 12-man roster. Love has appeared ineffective in exhibition matches, however, so Beal’s absence could be an excuse for Popovich to get Randle a bit more volume on the glass if he’s ready to play.
Bring the young people: Team USA has plenty of creators even without Beal, but Young would provide an explosive weapon as a goalscorer and passer. His exceptional play in the Hawks’ surprise run to the conference finals could have increased his stock in the eyes of the makers of the American team.
Steph Curry: He’s already said no once at the 2021 Olympics, but you can bet Popovich will make that phone call just in case Curry changes his mind.
James Harden: He retired with a hamstring injury sustained during the playoffs. It’s unclear what his recovery has been like over the past few weeks, but if he feels closer to 100%, he could board the guard station.
Donovan Mitchell: The jazz star also suffered from an ankle injury throughout the playoffs, so it’s unclear if he has recovered enough to handle the Olympic workload.
2019 USA World Cup players
These guys aren’t close to some of the best potential replacement options, but playing for the USA team under Popovich in 2019 at the FIBA World Cup could put them on the list of potential depth options as a 12th man.
Joe Harris: Losing Beal means losing a sniper and there’s no better 3-point shooter on the planet right now than Harris who knocked down 47.5% of his 3 last season for the Nets.
Marcus Smart: It was an ugly defensive start for the United States during the show schedule, especially in the backcourt. Getting on Smart could bring a nice change of pace to that mentality, although Jrue Holiday should be able to bring that defensive mentality to the table once the NBA Finals are over as well.
Harrison Barnes: He won a gold medal for the United States team in 2016 and he is still in his prime at 29 years old. Provide a consistent outside hit and some versatility on defense.
Jaylen Brown: He would be an obvious choice, but he hasn’t recovered enough from his wrist surgery in April to play competitively yet.
The United States is back in action on Friday with an exhibition clash against Australia at 6 p.m. ET in Las Vegas. With the team due to leave for Tokyo in the middle of next week, look for a quick decision on a replacement.
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